Sihanoukville

Secrets of the Ocean After Dark

Koh Rong Island is a MUST for anyone traveling in southern Cambodia. Not only is it the least developed island I visited in Southeast Asia, but if you’re willing to wade a short distance from the shore after dark, you can experience a magic like no other.

Along these shores, phosphorescent plankton fill the water. You simply have to trouble the water for an exotic lightshow to display all around you. It’s like stepping into one of the night scenes from Avatar….all of a sudden you are surrounded by glowing tiny lights. The wander of this experience made me want to stay in the ocean all night! (All of the little glowing dots in the picture are plankton.)

Koh Rong Island can only be reached by boat from Sihanoukville. When I was there, there were only 3 choices of accommodation and the power only came on during certain hours. We stayed at Monkey Beach Bungalows, where this ocean experience was literally steps from our bungalow. You can book a bungalow on the island & transportation through the Monkey Republic guesthouse on Serendipity road in Sihanoukville.